Starter Question

[Agnebrew]

This is probably an easy one, but I'm making my first starter tonight. How much DME for 2000ml flask? Thanks in advance.

[Thirsty Boy]

Its not so much the flask size as the size of the starter you want to make. I probably wouldn't try to make a starter bigger than 1500ml in the 2000ml flask - I have done in the past and ended up with lots of yeast on the floor.

When you do make it, its easy. 10:1 ratio of water to DME will give you a perfect gravity for a starter - so 10g of DME to 100ml of water - 100g of DME to 1000ml of water etc etc. That will give you a gravity between 1.035 & 1.040 which is just right.

To decide how big a starter you need to make, try out Jamil's pitching rate calculator at the Mr Malty website and while you are there, have a read of his very comprehensive FAQ's about starters & how to make them, 2nd link from the top of the page and 4th from the bottom.

Hope that helps

Thirsty

[Agnebrew]

Thanks Thirsty. I read through the pope's site, and it was really helpful. Thanks for sending it my way.

[Todd]

My starter kit that I bought from More Beer is a 1000ml size erlenmyer flask. The mix is 1 cup of DME and 900 ml water - makes a perfect 1 liter starter. Since those ratios should stay constant, 2 cups and 1800 ml should also work, if you have the head space in the neck of your vessel.

[Mylo]

Todd, that seems like way too much to me. I've used the same ration that Thirsty Boy does - 100g of DME to make a 1 L starter @ about 1.040. If a cup is 8oz, then you are using more than double that (and therefore double the gravity - 1.080) which is too much for a starter.


Mylo

[Sent From My iPhone]

On a side note, it's a good idea to use a drop of Foam Control in your starters. Really helps reducing boil overs.

[Agnebrew]

W

On a side note, it's a good idea to use a drop of Foam Control in your starters. Really helps reducing boil overs.

Wish I had pick some of that up. Had a little boilover. Oh well! Pick some up next time I'm at the LHBS.

[bashcraft]

Todd, that seems like way too much to me. I've used the same ration that Thirsty Boy does - 100g of DME to make a 1 L starter @ about 1.040. If a cup is 8oz, then you are using more than double that (and therefore double the gravity - 1.080) which is too much for a starter.


Mylo

You're confusing weight and volume. An 8 oz. cup is volume. A cup of DME weighs a little less than 4 oz. or about 100 grams.